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Shepard Abduction: Police searching new area

Kathlynn Shepard has been missing since 4 p.m. Monday. She was abducted with a 12-year-old girl who escaped and got help. Anyone with information is asked to call the Webster County Sheriff's Office at 515-573-1410.

--Friday search

Police searching for a Shepard are looking in a new area where investigators believe the man suspected of kidnapping her may have driven.

Law enforcement officials and volunteers were looking Friday for Shepard in an area 10 miles north and northwest of the rural Dayton property where Michael Klunder was found dead.

Officials say new information leads them to believe Klunder may have driven in that area after he kidnapped Kathlynn and her 12-year-old friend Monday. It's about 30 miles north of where the girls' backpacks were found in rural Boone County, an area that's been searched repeatedly.

Police say Klunder committed suicide hours after the 12-year-old escaped. They say Shepard's blood was found on his truck and at a hog confinement where he took the girls.

Investigators also are reviewing Klunder's cellphone records to try to track his movements after the abduction. And they've been talking to people who may have seen his truck.

--Photo released

As a holiday weekend is about to begin, there is still no sign of Shepard.

Authorities released this photo of Michael Klunder's truck hoping it may generate new leads. Officials have asked that anyone who had seen Klunder’s truck on Monday call the Webster County Sheriff’s Office at 515-583-1410.

The search for Shepard was put on hold overnight.

Investigators will begin searching again Friday morning with volunteers in groups of 10. They're asking for volunteers to help in the search. If you're able to participate, contact the Webster County Sheriff's Office, at 515-573-1410.

--Thursday updates

New information was provided at a news conference Thursday afternoon in the case of a missing Iowa girl from Dayton.

Authorities said they are asking for more volunteer help to search on Friday.

DCI Special Agent Bill Kietzman said blood evidence belonging to Shepard was found at one of the locations as well as on the inside of the tailgate of Klunder's pickup truck. The location is where the 12-year-old escaped at a hog confinement.

Kietzman said from the evidence authorities believe that Shepard was injured.

Authorities plan to expand the search to the north and west of Dayton due to new information that Klunder may have also been in that area.

Anyone who saw a red Toyota truck in the Dayton area Monday should contact law enforcement to report where they saw the truck and when.

Searchers also found Klunder's gun Wednesday where the 12-year-old told them they would find it.

Authorities are asking the public to search their properties and buildings on their properties.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said it will provide additional information about evidence found in and around the various locations where Michael Klunder and Shepard visited the day of the abduction.

Authorities said Thursday that the State Medical Examiner is releasing the autopsy report on Michael Klunder, the man authorities said abducted the girls. The report shows Klunder died of suicide by hanging. He was found dead on the day of the abduction about four hours after the girls disappeared. He was found at a hog confinement building.

Kietzman said Klunder's wife has been cooperating with the investigation and is not a suspect in the case.

"We are not giving up hope on Kathlynn," said Kietzman.

He said 140 law enforcement volunteers plus others are searching Thursday.

Thursday Search:

Workers in hazmat suits were seen entering a hog confinement Thursday afternoon near Dayton where Dezi Hughes escaped on Monday. The property has been searched before.

Other search teams were located down near the town of Fraser where the girls' backpacks were found on Tuesday. Teams of searchers were checking farm fields, ditches and wooded areas for any evidence that might be related to the case.

Authorities issued a call for volunteers Thursday morning. If you want to volunteer to help search or provide resources call the Webster County Emergency Manager's Office at 515-571-6483 -- leave message with your name, contact number and resources available.

12-Year-Old Who Escaped Speaks:

The 12-year-old girl, Dezi Hughes, who Michael Klunder is suspected of kidnapping is talking about the ordeal publicly for the first time with the Dayton Leader and Iowa Public Radio.

Dayton Leader reported Dezi said Klunder pulled his truck over to talk to the girls and said they could earn some money mowing lawns.

Dezi said Klunder then offered to drive the girls home, but ended up taking both to the hog confinement where he worked. Dezi said that Klunder zip-tied her hands and took Kathlynn to another area on the grounds.

That's when she escaped. She told the Daily Leader, "He had a gun, but he left it. I took it and hid in the woods. I just kept running."

Dezi's family said they are helping investigators in the search for Kathlynn.

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